Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-15
THE ANNEXATION QUESTION.

talked of, and apparently the most popu
lar proposition, is the division of the Ter.
ritory between Nevada and Colorado
This could easily be done by establishing
the boundary line at the south western
cornea of Wyoming, and running it due
south to Arizona. This would give about
three-fourths of the area and more than
nineteen-twentieths of the population to
Nevada. While this, in geographical
point of view is all very fine, we opine
that calm reflection will convince
every intelligent person of the folly
of the proposition. The voting popula-
| ton of Nevada is a little over eleven
thousand. That added to the Gentle
vote of the acquired territory would fall
short of the Mormon strength at least
forty per cent. The result would be that
the priesthood would control the politics
of Nevada as completely as it now does
in this Territory. The so-called Peoples
ticket would be elected in every county
within the present Utah boundary.
This, under proportionate representa-
ton would insure Mormon majority in
both branches of the State Legislature,
and the consequent election of two Nor
mon United States Senators. The Church
would name every State officer, and
the Congressional Districts could not be
so arranged as to prevent the election of
one, if not two Mormon Congressman.
"But," say the unthinking advocates of
this scheme, ''the Nevada Legislature
has adopted test oath which would dis
franchise the Mormons." The Brigham
City election the other day ought to dem
onstrate to the most obtuse mind the de-
pendence which can be placed upon test
oaths as bar to the elective franchise.
Besides, under the incongruous constitu-
ton of Nevada, it is extremely doubtful
whether the law referred to would hold
water in the Supreme Court of the State.
1t is urged that the Constitution of the
State could be changed so as to
fasten the matter. This could not
be done inside of six years. 1t will
be two years before the next session of
the Legislature and it would require tour
years more to make any change what
ever in the fundamental law. In short,
the proposed scheme would be tanta-
mount to admitting Utah, in her present
condition, into the Union, with political
jurisdiction over the present State of Ne
vada. The proposition should not for
moment be entertained by anyone not
member of the Mormon Church. The
result would be practically the same if
all, or any portion of Idaho, in connec-
ton with Uath, should be included in the
newly constructed State. The Mormons,
if not in the majority would hold
such heavy balance of power
that they would virtually, if not
absolutely control the politics of the COM
monwealth. There is no portion of Utah,
which, attached to a sovereign State,
would not add to the political power of
the Mormon Church. Every subject of
the priestly rule, who shares the privil-
eges of Statehood, is by far a more inn
portant factor in the body polite of Nor
monism than a hundred voters of his
faith in Utah. Even now in Nevada,
where the Mormon vote does not exceed
three hundred, it controls the elections
in one county, and in close contests de-
cides the political result in the State. If
all OF our adjoining Territories were
States, and Utah was to be parceled out
equally among them all, including Neva-
da and Colorado, it would be but the
of an element in each, which
would exercise its political power to the
best advantage to the ecclesiastical gov
ernment to which it owes its first al |
legiance and whose centrelization would |
not be broken or changed by any COM
bination Of State boundaries within the |
power of Congress to make. 1t is best as |
it is. The bulk of the Mormon popula-
ton is in Utah. It is less harmful, con-
solidated in Territory than if divided
among number of States, where its
power would not be restricted bv |
the strong arm of the Federal
Government. Let them not be in
vested with the rights of Statehood,
either in body or in divisions,
until they have proven themselves
worthy of the confidence of the Ameri-
;an people, by throwing off the yoke of
bondage and pledging in
good faith their first allegiance to the
only government recognized by the loyal
citizens of the Nation May that dav
speedily arrive, and until then let Utah
remain united as Territory. Let her
1ot be broken in pieces and her frag-
nents distributed among her neigh5ors;
out let her remain intact, holding herself
n readiness to enter at the proper time
Is loyal State into the great and glori-
,us Union. So mote it be.
.-.-....-7
The Legislature of Nevada passed a
,ill authorizing the running of State